Aging Doctors, the Hobbit, and a closeted John Barrowman – we look back at The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, and what made it so special for Doctor Who fans.
Over the past month, we’ve looked at several major specials that Doctor Who‘s fiftieth anniversary gave us. These have included The Night of the Doctor, An Adventure in Space and Time and of course, The Day of the Doctor.
But there’s still one little piece of brilliance from that year that we need to take a look at. And that is The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, as written and directed by Peter Davison himself.
In case you haven’t seen it, it’s basically the story of how Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy try to get a part in The Day of the Doctor, and the high jinks they get up to along the way.
From start to finish, it’s an absolutely hilarious treat for Whovians, Classic and New. There are just so many references. Even the title itself is a nod to The Five Doctors. Which of course is obvious, but it’s also a nod to the fact that technically, there weren’t five Doctors in the twentieth anniversary special.
(Ironically, considering that this comedy special features Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, David Tennant and Matt Smith, this one actually features more than five Doctors, but mainly focuses on three.)
A perfect self-parody
Throughout the special Davison is never afraid to send himself up for laughs. Whether it’s begging Moffat for a part on the special, or getting confused when he finds out that actually, the TARDIS prop isn’t bigger on the inside after all, he really seems to enjoy poking fun at himself.
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Of course, he’s not afraid to do the same for the other Doctors, either. Whether it’s giving McCoy an inflated ego due to working on The Hobbit, or referencing how busy Paul McGann always seems to be, every Doctor gets a good laugh in this one.
But it’s not just the Doctors who make an appearance in this one. Whether it’s companions, showrunners, actors he’s worked with or even family members, practically everyone Davison knows features in this at some point. And all of them are happy to poke fun at themselves.
My favorite moment? The Doctors finding out about John Barrowman’s biggest secret – he’s a closet straight with a secret family. It’s an idea so utterly ridiculous that of course Barrowman would be up for it!
On the whole, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot is just a joy to watch. It featured so many jokes and references that celebrated Doctor Who‘s vast history. At the same time, it also showed why featuring aging Doctors in their original costumes might be better for something more humorous than in a genuine Doctor Who story. While the Peter Davison we saw was clearly deeply upset about not appearing in The Day of the Doctor, I wonder how his real-life counterpart feels.
Regardless, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot is always a great watch, and is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
What did you think of The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot? Who was your favorite cameo? Which little in-joke did you particularly enjoy? Let us know in the comments below.